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General Chiwenga

Prosper Dembedza Herald Reporter
Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander General Constantine Chiwenga has hailed the visit by his counterparts from Pakistan and Angola to commemorate Heroes’ and Defence Forces Days and said this would strengthen bilateral relations.

Air Marshal Saeed Muhammad Khan, Vice Chief of Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force and General Antonio Egidio De Sousa Santos, Deputy Chief of General Staff, Angolan armed Forces were in the country to celebrate Heroes’ and Defence Forces Days.

In a speech read on his behalf by Zimbabwe National Army commander Lt General Philip Valerio Sibanda during a dinner held on Tuesday night at a local hotel in Harare, Gen Chiwenga said high level visits during national events of this nature help cement the existing warm and cordial relations amongst the countries.

“It is indeed without doubt that your coming to commemorate with us signifies the desire to further cement the existing relations between our fraternal brotherly nations,” he said.

Gen Chiwenga said Pakistan played a crucial role in moulding the Zimbabwe Defence Forces to what they are today.

“The signing of the MoU in 1983 opened-up the training of ZDF that enhanced the aspects of command and control when Pakistan Armed Forces seconded Air Marshal Daudpota as commander AFZ from 1983 to 1986.

“It is also in this spirit of camaraderie that Gp Capt PO Mehdi was seconded as Base Commander Manyame Air base (AFZ) from 1983 to 1987 together with other flying technical and air bases to help enhance the AFZ capabilities,” General Chiwenga said.

He said ZDF benefited immensely from the experience of Wg Cdr Kharim during his stint as OC Flying at Thornhill Air Base who later became Commander of the Pakistan Air Force.

“What is distinct and peculiar about our past is that our nations were once colonised by European powers and the path to independence was a brutal one.

“The Islamic Republic of Pakistan on one hand was colonised by the British, while Angola by the Portuguese who made similar exploits to colonise Zimbabwe before they were dislodged by the British.

“Common to this colonial rule was the subjugation of our people and economic exploitation of our natural resources,” he said.

Speaking on the same occasion Air Marshal Saeed Muhammad Khan, Vice Chief of Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force said Zimbabwe was free to send as many officers as she wish to Pakistan.